Portable current supply device for flash bulbs and housing means

ABSTRACT

A current supply device, especially for photoflash lamps, in which a generally cubicle container is provided open at the top and having a cover of electrical insulating material closing the open top. The cover carries connectors for connecting the device to cables leading to photoflash lamps and also carries control elements for controlling the device and a connector for connecting the device to an external source of electrical energy. A handle is provided on the cover for movement of the device and is connected at one end to a raised intermediate portion of the cover and at the other end to an elevated region at one end of the cover. A metal hood is provided that can be mounted on the cover to cover the aforementioned connectors and control elements while leaving the handle exposed.

United States Patent 1 Haberthiir A PORTABLE CURRENT SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FLASH BULBS AND HOUSING MEANS [75] lnventor: Walter Haberthiir, Hofstetten,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Bron Elektronik AG, Allschwil,

Switzerland [22] Filed: Jan. 23, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.: 326,153

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 25, 1972 Germany 2203337 [52] U.S.Cl ..317/120,317/101R,317/116, I

[51] Int. Cl. H02b 1/10 [58] Field of Search... 174/52 R, 66; 317/99, 101 R, 317/116, 118, 120; 95/11 R, 11.5 R; 240/13,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,555,394 l/l97l Bramer 307/150 3,056,893 10/1962 RUSS 307/150 3,728,586 4/1973 lnhelder 317/116 [451 May 7, 1974 6/1968 Kahl ..250/239 9/1965 Rutledge 250/215 Primary Examiner-Robert K. Schaefer Assistant Examiner-Gerald P. Tolin Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter Becker 5 7] ABSTRACT A current supply device, especially for photoflash lamps, in which a generally cubicle container is provided open at the top and having a cover of electrical insulating material closing the open top. The cover carries connectors for connecting the device to cables leading to photoflash lamps and also carries control elements for controlling the device and a connector for connecting the-device to an external source of electrical energy. A handle is provided on the cover for movement of the device and is connected at one end to a raised-intermediate portion of the cover and at the other end to an elevated region at one end of .the cover. A.metal hood is provided that can be mounted on the coverato cover the aforementioned connectors and control elements while leaving the handle exposed.

21 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY 7 2374 sum 2 or 3 PORTABLE CURRENT SUPPLY DEVICE FOR FLASH BULBS AND HOUSING MEANS The present invention relates toa portable current supply device for photoflash lamps which has a substantially cubic housing with preferably rectangular plan view, in which the structural elements are arranged which serve for storing the electric energy necessary for the photoflash lamps.

The commercially available current supply devices of the heretofore known type are intended primarily for stationary use in studios and are not suited for work outside a studio. As far as portable devices of the type involved which are equipped with handles have become known, they require numerous elements and have a large vertical surface front on which are arranged the sockets and the servicing and checking means. One of the main drawbacks of these known devices consists in that the connections are not clearly separated so that there exists the danger of confusion with regard to the connecting wires. Consequently a fast, clear and error-free establishment of the connections cannot'be assured already in view of the construction of the device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a current supply device of the above mentioned general character which will overcome the above mentioned drawbacks and which can easily be transported, handled and serviced, and which will also have small dimensions and low weight.

It is another object of this invention to provide a current supply device as set forth in the preceding paragraph, which will make it possible to combine the device, similar to the combination of batteries, with other current supply devices if it is necessary to distribute the photoflash lamps over a plurality of current supply devices in order not to exceed the normal individual output of a current supply device.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly from the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a current supply device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical section through the device according to the invention, said section being taken along the line II II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical section partially seen from the side and partially taken along the line III III of FIG. 1.

The portable current supply device according to the present invention is characterized primarily in that the connecting means for the connection of the device to the network and the connecting means for the connection with at least one photoflash lamp are arranged in a cover made of insulating material and placed upon the free upper end face of the housing. In this way it will be possible that for current supply devices of different outputs each time a cover of the same design and arrangement may be employed and that furthermore,

' when a plurality of current supply devices are combined, a clearly visible distribution of the connecting means for connecting the device to a current supply network and of the connecting means for the photoflash lamps will be assured.

For a current supply device of the type involved which is specifically designed for travel purposes, it is furthermore advantageous when the cover of the device, which is made of insulating material, has a handle formed thereon to facilitate carrying the device. This handle may advantageously be so arranged that it extends in a vertical plane of symmetry of the housing and is substantially horizontal and parallel to the free upper end face of the housing of the device.

For improving the handling of the current supply device when connecting it to a network and when establishing the connection with the photoflash lamps, it is suggested according to a further development of the invention that the top side of the cover is provided with a roof or bulge-like wall which is located parallel to the narrow sides of the cover and in which the servicing and/or control elements are arranged. The device according to the present invention furthermore makes it possible so to arrange the connecting means that they will be accessible from the narrow side of the device. Advantageously, the connecting means may consist of at least one socket arranged in the cover which has associated therewith a plug. When for an easier distribution of the high voltage energy over the individual photoflash lamps, which have to be connected in a greater number, a plurality of sockets are provided for the pertaining plugs to be connected to the'photoflash lamps, it issuggested according to a further development of the invention to arrange the connecting means preferably adjacent to each other on a narrow side of the cover so that they are freely accessible and easy to handle. Therefore, the sockets when seen in top view of the device are arranged parallel to each other in such a way that the cables when connected to the plugs and leading to the photoflash lamps are at least at those sections which are adjacent to the plugs parallel to the plan view sides of the cover when seen from the top. In this way a clear grouping of the elements is obtained which is of particular advantage when a plurality of current supply devices built-up in the same manner in conformity with the present invention are arranged adjacent to each other and are connected to each other in the manner of a battery.

According to a further development of the invention it may be particularly advantageous when the connecting means intended for connection to a current supply network are arranged exclusively on or above the second surface field which is separated optionally and functionally by the bulge 'from the first field of the cover surface. The inclined wall of the bulge may have a confining portion which extends transverse to the longitudinal sides of the cover and which is inclined at an angle of approximately 1 10 with regard to the horizontal surface and comprises a generally standardized network plug. Advantageously, a network fuse is arranged in the surface field of the cover and is so located that the network plug coupling pertaining to the network plug will, when occupying its position of operation,

' cover up the fuse. In this way it will be possible in a simple manner to assure that the fuse will be accessible only and will be exchangeable if necessary only after the network coupling has been pulled out and consequently the device is not under voltage.

The connecting means for the connection'of the device to a network and the connecting means for the connection with at least one photoflash lamp .may, according to a further development of the invention be so arranged on the cover that they are located within the surface of the cover and below the level determined by the upper edge of the handle. In this way the connecting means will be protected against damage in a simple manner which damage could otherwise be incurred when the device should drop down. If, in conformity, with the above mentioned suggestion, the top side of the cover has a bulge-like wall, a further simplification as to operating and handling the device will be obtained when the operating and/or control elements are arranged on the top side of the bulge-like wall in the vicinity of the handle. Advantageously at least one of the control elements may form a photoelectric cell and may be arranged in a receiving device located in the bulge and may preferably be rotatable about its longitudinal axis. Inthis instance the photoelectric cell may be aligned with a light beam and may then be employed for synchronizing the device.

' According to a still further development of the invention, in the vicinity of one of the two narrow sides of the cover there may be provided a formed-on elevation having the shape of a hub which is provided with a bore extending in a direction transverse to the top side of the cover for receiving the connecting element of a tripod which in its position of use should preferably be vertical. Advantageously, at the bottom of the housing there may be provided a guiding member which is expediently connected as one piece to the bottom of the housing and has a central opening in which the tripod connecting element is longitudinally displaceable atleast up to the hub. A particularly safe connection of the device with a continuous tripod connecting element is obtained when, in conformity with a further development of the invention, between the guiding element and the hub there is provided a guiding tube which receives the tripod connecting element. Advantageously, a contact segment receiving the tripod connecting element may be provided on the guiding member which segment by means of at least two, preferably three, clamping springs clamps the connecting element of the tripod between the clamping springs. The arrangement may be such that the clamping springs extend through passages in the guiding member and press against the connecting element of the tripod.

For increasing the stability of the device, it is suggested according to a further development of the invention to provide on the outside of the housing bottom at least two laterally pivotable supporting rods which in folded-up condition are located within the plan view of the housing. Advantageously these supporting rods are adapted to be folded outwardly into folding position with an opening angle of at least 120.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the illustrated current supply device is intended to furnish the operating current for three photoflash lamps not shown in the drawings. Moreover, the device is shown in the drawings in an easily portable traveldevice in which an easy handling and operation as well as a compact construction, small dimensions and low weight are considered the outstanding features. The device according to the invention has a cover of electrically insulating material which simultaneously serves as front plate of a plurality of operating elements and also serves as supporting plate for the structural elements which serve for storing electric energy. These elements are arranged in a substantially cubic sheet metal housing 11 while, however, the housing serves not only as casing and as supporting frame for the cover and the structural elements connected thereto, but also for receiving the flashlight condensers.

More specifically, the cover is provided with a carrying handle 12 which forms one piece with the cover and by means of which the entire device can be lifted .and carried. The handle extends in a vertical plane of symmetry, which plane of symmetry extends along the section line II II of FIG. 1. In this way a uniform distribution of the weight over the handle is obtained. In order, on the one hand, to increase the stability of the cover and, on the other hand, to obtain a clearly observable and an easily accessible arrangement of the operating elements, the cover 10 which has a rectangular plan view, has its top side 13 provided with a walllike bulge 14 which extends parallel' and in spaced relationship to the two narrow sides 15 and 16 of the cover.

In this way, the top side 13 of the cover is subdivided into two fields l7 and 18 of which the smaller field 17 comprises three sockets 21, 22 and 23 which serve as connecting means to the not illustrated photoflash lamps. These sockets are so arranged that their pertaining photoflash lamp plugs (one of which is'shown in FIG. 3 at 20 in dash lines) with their cables 24 leading to the photoflash lamps can extend parallel to the longitudinal sides'of the plan view of the device and form a clearly observablearrangement even when several current supply devices are arranged adjacent to each other and closely to each other for forming a current supply battery, so that only relatively little space is needed while nevertheless the sockets will remain easily acces sible.

With theshown battery operation it is, above all, important that also the connecting means for connecting the device to a current supply network are easily accessible and so arranged that they can easily be checked. Therefore, with the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, a network socket 28 is inserted into a side wall 29 of the bulge 14 which side wall is directed toward the second field l8 and is inclined relativeto the latter by an angle of approximately 1 10. The network socket is intended for receiving a network plug 30 indicated by dash lines in FIG. 3. The plug 30 in its illustrated plugged-in condition covers up at least one safety element, in the illustrated embodiment two safety elements 31 and 32, for the network current in such a way that this safety element is accessible and can be removed only after the network plug 30 has been pulled out of the socket 28. In addition thereto, the connecting means are provided within the limits of the surface of cover 10 and below the horizontal plane which extends through the upper edge 33 of handle 12 so that they are protected against damage due to shock and dropping to the floor. On the other hand, when transporting such device together with other similar devices,

these devices can easily be stacked so that only relatively little space is required.

To enable an easy servicing of the device, the operating and control elements are arranged in the bulge 14 of the cover 10. Within the bulge 14 there is provided at least one key, in the embodiment shown the keys 35, 36 and 37, which is easily accessible from the handle 30. Moreover, there are also provided two sockets 38 and 39 for receiving an insertable photoelectric cell 40 (FIG. 3) and/or a synchronous cable. The photoelectric cell may be so turned inthe socket that it can be aligned with a light beam in order in this way to increase the safety of function and then to serve the synchronization of the photoflash device. In view of the arrangement of these operating elements at the highest point of the bulge 14, in addition to being easily serviced, the advantage is obtained that they also can freely be observed and consequently can be well controlled when a plurality of such devices is arranged in the manner of a battery adjacent to one another, for instance, on a movable carriage. In addition thereto, the inclined surface 41 of the bulge 14 which surface faces away from the handle 12 affords the possibility of providing thereon legends or writing.

The handle 12, the end sections of which form one piece with the bulge 14, has its other end section form one piece with the bulge in the form of a hub 42. The handle 12 is on both sides firmly connected to and supported by the cover. The hub 42 has a bore 43 which extends transverse to the top side 13 of the cover. The bore 43 is adapted to receive a non-illustrated tripod connecting element which extends vertically when in its position of use. To this end, a guiding member 45 with a central opening is arranged on the bottom 44 of housing 11 while between the guiding member 45 and the hub 42 there is provided a guiding tube 46 through which the tripod connecting element can be passed. The guiding member 45 is provided with a contact segment for the tripod connecting element. This contact segment presses by means of three clamping springs 47 against the tripod connecting element located between these springs so that the connecting element will be firmly arrested. The springs 47 extend through recesses 48 in the guiding tube 46 and engage the inserted tripod connecting element. The housing rests on four legs 49, preferably of rubber material, each leg being provided in a corner of the rectangular bottom 44. For increasing the stability of the device, two pivotable supporting rods 51 are provided which by means of a ball joint 52 are connected to the bottom and are adapted to be tilted from the shown transport position, in which they are located completely below the bottom 44, beyond the longitudinal sides 25 and 26 of the device to such an extent that they define therebetween an opening angle of from approximately 120 to 150.

The last mentioned structural elements of the current supply device include a charging element not illustrated in detail having connected thereto a plurality of charging condensers 56 (partially indicated by dash lines in FIG. 2) as well as two pairs of plugs and conductor plates 57 and 58 with an electronic circuit. Furthermore, there is provided a plug strip 59. The cover serves as supporting plate for all of these structural elements. To this end, the bottom side of cover 10 is provided with a plurality of formed-on eyes 60 of which only one is indicated in FIG. 2 in the vicinity of the bulge l4 and the merging zone between bulge l4 and surface 13 of the cover. The eyes 60 are provided with threaded bores for receiving connecting screws for the above mentioned structural elements.

The housing 11 which on its narrow side 16 adjacent to the hub 42 comprises a plurality of venting slots 62 defined by louvers 61 serves as supporting frame for the cover 10 and the structural elements mounted thereon. The upper marginal zone of housing 11 extends into a groove 63 which is located at the bottom side of a bead 64. extending along the edge of the cover 10. In this way the inner chamber of the housing is closed in a dust-tight and spray water-tight manner.

To protect the sockets 21-23 for the photoflash lamp connections during the transport of the device against soiling and damage, there is provided a hood 65 which in FIG. 3 is indicated in dash lines. This hood may be made of deep drawn sheet metal or may be finishpressed from synthetic material. The hood extends over the entire field 17 which contains the sockets and extends beyond the bulge 14 to such an extent that the device can nevertheless be grasped and transported by means of the handle 12. The lower marginal zone 66 of hood 65 rests upon the head 64 of the cover 10. Nonillustrated nose-like locking means provided on the marginal zone 66 of hood 65 catch behind the bead 64 when the hood is being mounted and pressed downwardly while permitting by a light pull to remove the hood again. In the interior of hood 65 there are provided holding means 67 for the accessories 68 and 69.

On the inner side of the large lateral wall surfaces of housing 11 there are provided guiding and holding rails 71 which may serve for mounting flash condensers 72 for selectively supplementing the device and increasing its output. These condensers v72 are combined in identical groups of four pieces each. The respective condensers pertaining to one group are heldtogether by a unit strip 73 and can easily be inserted into the housing and, if desired, exchanged. In this way the output of the device can easily be increased or decreased by adding or withdrawing groups respectively.

The outstanding advantage of the current supply device according to the present invention is seen in the fact that it can easily be serviced, handled and operated, represents a compact structure with small dimensions and low weight and has a high stability. In view of its sturdy construction and tightness against spray water it can easily be adapted to the respective safety requirements while the device itself has an'appealing appearance.

It is, of course, to be understood that the present invention is, by no means, limited to the specific showing in the drawings but also comprises anymodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a portable current supply device, especially for photoflash lamps; a substantially cubical housing which is generally rectangular when viewed from above with a shorter transverse dimension and a larger longitudinal dimension, said housing being adapted for receiving current supply means including condensers, said housing having an open upper end and a cover mounted on said open upper end, said cover being formed of electrical insulating material, means carried by said cover for connection of said device to photoflash lamp means and to an external source of electrical energy, a raised portion on the cover extending laterally thereof and dividing the cover into a first region and a second region, a handle on thecover extending from said raised portion to the opposite end of said second region, connect-- ing means for the connection of the device to photoflash lamp means in said first region and said raised portion, control elements for the device in the top of said raised portion, and a metal hood detachably connected to said cover in covering relation to said raised portion and said first region while leaving at least said handle exposed.

2. A device according to claim 1 in which said handle projects upwardly from the cover in the vertical plane of symmetry of said housing.

3. A device according to claim 1 in which said raised portion extends transversely of the cover, and said control elements for said device are mounted in said raised portion. I

' 4. A device according to claim 1 in which said means for connection of the device to photoflash lamp means comprises a plurality of connectors distributed laterally in the cover near one of the narrow sides thereof in a freely accessible location.

5. A device according to claim 4in which there are cables leading therefrom to photoflash lamps disposed with said connectors to parallel to the longer sides of said cover at least adjacent the said connectors.

6. A device according to claim 3 in which said raised portion has one wall extending transversely 'of the cover inclined at an angle of about 1 the said means for connection of the device to an external source of electrical energy comprising a socket recessed into said inclined wall.

7. A device according to claim 6 in which said raised portion divides the top of the said cover into a first region on one side of the raised portion and a second region on the other side of the raised portion, said inclined wall facing said second region, said socket being disposed above the plane of said second region.

8. A device according to claim 7 which includes fuse means mounted in said second region of the cover, and a cable leading to said socket covering said fuse means.

9. A device according to claim 3 in which said raised portion divides said cover into first and second regions separated by said raised portion, and a handle projecting upwardly from the cover, said handle being disposed above the plane of said regions and being positioned over said second region.

10. A device according to claim 9 which includes control elements for said device mounted in the top of said raised portion near said handle.

11. A device according to claim 10 in which said condle extends parallel to the'long dimension of said cover and has one end connected to said raised portion, an elevation on said cover near the end of said second re gion which is remote from said raised portion, and the' ing member to receive the post and said cover having an aperture registering with said bore.

14. A device according to claim 13 which includes a tube fixed in said housing and defining said bore.

15. A device according to claim 13 in which said guiding member includes spring elements protruding into said bore for engagement with said post.

16. A device according to claim 1 in which said housing includes foot members protruding downwardly fromthe bottom, and at least two support bars pivotally connected to the bottom of the housing and swingable outwardly so as to extend laterally from the housing to provide support against tilting of the housing.

17. A device according to claim 1 in which said cover. has bosses formed on the underneath side thereof and forming means .for receiving screws to support components of the device.

18. A device according to claim 1 in which said hood comprises a cavity with said first region and has means on the underneath side above said first region for holding accessories for the device.

19. A device according to claim 1 in which said cover has a downwardly facing rim with a groove therein receiving the upper edge of the housing.

20. A device according to claim 1 in which said housing has a side wall, guide rails on the inside of said side wall, and condensers received thereby.

21. A device according to claim 20 in which said condensers are arranged in groups, and a connecting strip electrically connecting the condensers of each group, the number of groups of condensers in the housing being variable to vary the capacity of the device. 

1. In a portable current supply device, especially for photoflash lamps; a substantially cubical housing which is generally rectangular when viewed from above with a shorter transverse dimension and a larger longitudinal dimension, said housing being adapted for receiving current supply means including condensers, said housing having an open upper end and a cover mounted on said open upper end, said cover being formed of electrical insulating material, means carried by said cover for connection of said device to photoflash lamp means and to an external source of electrical energy, a raised portion on the cover extending laterally thereof and dividing the cover into a first region and a second region, a handle on the cover extending from said raised portion to the opposite end of said second region, connecting means for the connection of the device to photoflash lamp means in said first region and said raised portion, control elements for the device in the top of said raised portion, and a metal hood detachably connected to said cover in covering relation to said raised portion and said first region while leaving at least said handle exposed.
 2. A device according to claim 1 in which said handle projects upwardly from the cover in the vertical plane of symmetry of said housing.
 3. A device according to claim 1 in which said raised portion extends transversely of the cover, and said control elements for said device are mounted in said raised portion.
 4. A device according to claim 1 in which said means for connection of the device to photoflash lamp means comprises a plurality of connectors distributed laterally in the cover near one of the narrow sides thereof in a freely accessible location.
 5. A device according to claim 4 in which there are cables leading therefrom to photoflash lamps disposed with said connectors to parallel to the longer sides of said cover at least adjacent the said connectors.
 6. A device according to claim 3 in which said raised portion has one wall extending transversely of the cover inclined at an angle of about 110*, the said means for connection of the device to an external source of electrical energy comprising a socket recessed into said inclined wall.
 7. A device according to claim 6 in which said raised portion divides the top of the said cover into a first region on one side of the raised portion and a second region on the other side of the raised portion, said inclined wall facing said second region, said socket being disposed above the plane of said second region.
 8. A device according to claim 7 which includes fuse means mounted in said second region of the cover, and a cable leading to said socket covering said fuse means.
 9. A device according to claim 3 in which said raised portion divides said cover into first and second regions separated by said raised portion, and a handle projecting upwardly from the cover, said handle being disposed above the plane of said regions and being positioned over said second region.
 10. A device accordiNg to claim 9 which includes control elements for said device mounted in the top of said raised portion near said handle.
 11. A device according to claim 10 in which said control elements include electrical sockets for receiving a synchronizing cable, a photocell and comparable component.
 12. A device according to claim 9 in which said handle extends parallel to the long dimension of said cover and has one end connected to said raised portion, an elevation on said cover near the end of said second region which is remote from said raised portion, and the other end of said handle being connected to said elevation.
 13. A device according to claim 1 in which a bore extends vertically through said housing near the center of one of the narrow sides of the housing for receiving a support post, the bottom of the housing having a guiding member to receive the post and said cover having an aperture registering with said bore.
 14. A device according to claim 13 which includes a tube fixed in said housing and defining said bore.
 15. A device according to claim 13 in which said guiding member includes spring elements protruding into said bore for engagement with said post.
 16. A device according to claim 1 in which said housing includes foot members protruding downwardly from the bottom, and at least two support bars pivotally connected to the bottom of the housing and swingable outwardly so as to extend laterally from the housing to provide support against tilting of the housing.
 17. A device according to claim 1 in which said cover has bosses formed on the underneath side thereof and forming means for receiving screws to support components of the device.
 18. A device according to claim 1 in which said hood comprises a cavity with said first region and has means on the underneath side above said first region for holding accessories for the device.
 19. A device according to claim 1 in which said cover has a downwardly facing rim with a groove therein receiving the upper edge of the housing.
 20. A device according to claim 1 in which said housing has a side wall, guide rails on the inside of said side wall, and condensers received thereby.
 21. A device according to claim 20 in which said condensers are arranged in groups, and a connecting strip electrically connecting the condensers of each group, the number of groups of condensers in the housing being variable to vary the capacity of the device. 